Mallet for playing xylophones and the like



May 14, 1957 w. E. SODERBERG MALLET FOR PLAYING XYLOPHONES AND THE. LIKE Filed June 8, 1954 INVENTOR. WALTER E. SODERBERG AGENT llnited States Patent MALLET FOR PLAYING XYLOPHONES AND THE LIKE Walter E. Soderberg, Duluth, Minn.

Application June 8, 1954, Serial No. 435,199

4 Claims. (Cl. 84-422) This invention relates to a mallet for playing a musical instrument such as a Xylophone, marimba, vibra-harp, or the like.

In playing instruments such as the Xylophone, it is common to employ two mallets in each hand in order to play two notes simultaneously with eachhand thereby providing a more full or melodious rendition of a musical number. The holdin of two mallets in each hand is of course more difiicult than holding one mallet in each hand and the skill required to play with four instead of two mallets is much greater. it takes a great deal of practice in order to employ four mallets, two in each hand, expertly.

One of the difiiculties encountered in employing four mallets is that the notes or keys on a Xylophone, or a similar instrument, are so arranged that it is often necessary to spread the mallet heads farther apart or bring them closer together to play notes which are side by side and substantially parallel to each other on the keyboard. Instruments of the type here in question usually have their keys or bars mounted in two rows, the natural row, and the sharp and flat row, which terms are deemed to be self-explanatory. Sometimes the two rows of keys are mounted on two levels, the sharp and fiat row being slightly above and overlapping the natural row. When it is desired to play notes in both the natural and sharp and flat row simultaneously, one of the mallets of one hand playing the natural row and the other mallet playing the sharp and flat row, the maneuvering of the mallets for efficient playing becomes increasingly diii'icult as the lateral space between the notes decreases. When the lateral spacing between the notes to be played is relatively large, ones elbow and/ or wrist may be maneuvered laterally to place the heads of the mallets in the desired laterally and longitudinally spaced relation for playing. As the lateral spacing between the notes decreases, it requires too much elbow and wrist movement to accomplish the desired positioning of the mallet to permit it to be quickly and rapidly changed to the notes being played.

It is therefore one of the principal objects of my invention to provide a mallet for the playing of an instrument such as a Xylophone, marimba, vibra-harp, glockenspiel, or the like, in a more simple and eflicient manner as has heretofore been provided.

Another object is to provide such a mallet which is relatively inexpensive, and which will not require extensive training or practice for use by an ordinary player of such instruments.

A more specific object of my invention is to provide a means whereby such a mallet may be so held and operated by the player as to permit one of the mallets to be reciprocated relative to the other to change the relative positioning of the mallet heads when a pair of mallets are held in the same hand.

Another object is to provide such a device wherein the thumb may be employed to shift the position of one mallet relative to the other quickly and easily.

Another object is to provide such a device which will 2,791,930 P iittente tl' May 14,

not interfere with the players regular mode of playing but Will enhance his abilities to play efliciently.

Another object is to provide a sleeve on the handle of a mallet for use in playing instruments of the type in question, the sleeve serving to provide a grip to hold the mallet in its desired position in ones hand, the holder providing access to the mallet handle by the players thumb to permit reciprocation of the handle within the sleeve to change the position of the mallet heads relative to each other when more than one mallet is carried in one hand.

These and other objects and advantages will become more apparent as the description proceeds.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application:

Fig. l is a perspective view showing a pair of mallets held in a hand in playing position, the mallets being equipped with my invention of operation in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one form of slide member for mounting on the mallet handle.

Fig. 3 is a similar view of another form of slide member.

for the handle.

In the drawing reference numeral 1 indicates the handle or shaft of a mallet for playing an instrument such as a Xylophone, marimba, vibra-harp, or the like, the shaft or handle preferably comprising an elongated shaft of uniform thickness throughout its length, and preferably for a circular cross-sectional contour.

Mallets of the type in question are equipped with a head member 2 which may be of any desired material and texture suitable for playing the instrument desired. Mallet shafts and heads as above described are conventional and are believed not to need any further explanation.

My invention includes the mounting of a slide or sleeve member 3 on the shaft or handle 1 of the mallet, the member 3 being elongated, as shown, to provide a means for holding the mallet in playing position in ones hand, see Fi g. l.

The slide or sleeve member 3 normally remains in a substantially constant position relative to the hand 4 of the player, as will become apparent. The member 3 has sufficient area to prevent the handle 1 of the mallet A from contacting the hand 4, but has suitable open areas 5 to permit the thumb 6 of the player to engage the handle 1 of the mallet A to reciprocate the handle 1 of the mallet A relative to the member 3. The open areas 5 are preferably accomplished by cutting away sufficient area of the sleeve member 3 to create an elongated relatively Wide opening therein as shown, yet leaving sufiicient material in the sleeve member 3 to provide spaced and circling portions 8-8 adjacent each end of the member 3 whereby the sleeve member and shaft are united for cooperative use.

The sleeve member 3 may be made in any desired manner, of course, to provide the structural characteristics desired and may comprise a pair of rings 99 secured at opposite ends of an elongated sheet or strip member for an arcuate cross-section substantially conforming to the circular cross-section of the handle I of the mallet. If desired, the sleeve member may be made of one flat piece having suitable cut out areas and bent to the desired crosssectional shape, the cut out areas providing the opening by means of which the thumb may engage the mallet handle to reciprocate same within the sleeve.

Another means for making my sleeve member is to employ cylindrical material and cutting away portions of the Wall of the cylinder intermediate the ends thereof to provide the thumb engaging opening.

The sleeve member 3, regardless of how it is con structed, is preferably held in place on the mallet handle or shaft 1 by providing a suitable enlargement 10 on the outer end of the mallet to prevent the sleeve from slipping oft thee-ad of the mallet. Obviously, the head of the mallet of the opposite end of the handle prevents the sleeve member from slipping off of that and.

Having thus described'my invention, what I claim. is:

l. A mallet for playing a musical instrument of the Xylophone type comprising a handle, a playing head on one. end of said handle, a member reciprocably carried on said. handle and comprising an elongated slide including a body portion having an interior contour to receive said handle and being of sufiicient Width, to embrace substantially one-half of the periphery of said handle throughout substantially the entire length of said slide and relatively narrow bandson' said slide, extending beyond the edges of said body portion so as to embrace sufiicient additional periphery of said handle to hold said slide member in reciprocable engagement with said handle and leaving areas of said handle intermediate said bands open by means of which said handle may be engaged and reciprocated Within said sleeve.

2. A mallet for playing musical instruments comprising: a head member, a handle extending from said head member, a slide carried onsaid handle, said slide being of such a Width as to embrace substantially one-half of the adjacent periphery of said handle to provide a hand-hold by means of which said slide may be held by a player, relatively narrow band means carried on said slide and extending therefrom so as to embrace additional peripheral area of said handle to hold said slide in reciprocable mounting on said handle, leaving substantially one-half of the peripheral area of said handle adjacent said slide open to permit said handle to be engaged intermediate the ends of said slide to reciprocate said handle within said slide to extend or retract the head member relative to said slide and the hand of the player engaging same.

3. The structure as set forth in claim 2 and means to prevent said slide from passing the end of said handle opp osit-e, said? head.

4. A mallet for playing musical instruments comprising: an elongated shaft, a head on one end. of said shaft, and a slide carried on said shaft, said'slide having an elongated shape and, being contoured to receive said. shaft and embrace substantially one-half of the peripheral area of said shaft throughout substantially its entire length providing a hand-hold area, means extending from said slide to embrace additional peripheral area of said shaft to hold said slide in place thereon but to permit the reciprocation of said shaft in said slide, the area intermediate last said means and the edges of said slide being open to permit one hand holding and manipulation of said shaft and slide.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 256,611 Askew Apr. 18, 1882 FOREIGN PATENTS 804,637 Germany Apr. 26,, 1951 

